Book-holder



0.-1 HARRIS. BOOK HOLDER;

Patented Nov. 12, 1895 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES P. HARRIS, or SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

BOOK-HOLDER,

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 549,639, dated November12, 1895.

Application filed February 8, 1895. Serial No. 537,698. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, CHARLES. P. HARRIS, a citizen of the United States,residing at San Francisco, in the county of San Francisco and State ofCalifornia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inBook-Holders; and I do. hereby declare that the following is a full,clear, and exact description thereof.

My invention relates to adjustable rests or supports for books, papers,writing materials, &c.; and my object is to provide a convenient andsimple device of portable character adjustable in several ways fordifierent purposes and capable, according to its adjustment, of use asabook-support in reading, as a level or inclined writing-desk, and as aflattopped table or Stand.

My invention consists in a peculiar construction of the book-holder, itssupports, and the means of adjusting it, which is fully hereinafterdescribed and is shown in the accompanying drawings, in connection withwhich this specification should be read.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a front elevation of the entire device.Fig. 2 is a similar elevation, but enlarged, showing the clamp forsecuring the book-holder to its standard and the manner of jointing theholder to the clamp to permit of its various adjustments. Fig. 3 is ahorizontal sectionthrough the support or standard with the clamp shownin plan view and the book-holder removed. Fig. 4 is a side elevation,the book-support being shown in vertical cross-section. Fig. 5 is abroken transverse section through the book holder or table. Fig. 6 is anenlarged elevation of a book board or table. 7 is a modified form oflock for the pivoted board.

A represents a support or standard of wood or metal. It is preferablymade of square cross-section, so as to afford a better hold for theclamp, which is connected to the bookholder, but might be made of roundtubing. The standard is supported by a tripod base B, one leg 1 of whichis made longer than the others, for a purpose hereinafter referred to.

C represents a combined guide and clamp, preferably formed of a singlemalleable casting. It is composed of guides 2 and 3,which surround theslideIupon the standard, and an intermediate clamp 4. The guides 2 and 3are far enough apart to give a long bearing on the standard, and thuskeep the bookholder steady. The clamp 4, as shown in Fig. 4, does notentirely surround the standard, but has free ends, which can be drawntogether by the screw 5 after the clamp has been adjusted to its properheight. The screw 5 passes through threaded holes in parallel ears 6 6,projecting from the clamp. Between these ears and on a transverse pin 7is pivoted an angular plate 8, which is thus rendered adjustable in theears and can be held rigidly by being clamped between such ears when thelatter are drawn tightly against it by the screw 5. The part 9 of theplate projects at an angle, so as to bring a cylindrical pin 10 (formedwith it) out of line with the standard A. This pin, which is the journalfor supporting the book-holder, is provided with a groove 11. Thebook-holder D is a flat board, to which is secured a plate 12, having asleeve 13. This sleeve forms a bearing when fitted upon the pin 10. Itis held at an angle, and also prevented from coming off the pin by theset-screw 14, which passes through a threaded opening in the sleeve orbearing.

The book-holder is now capable of a double pivotal motion foradjustment. Thus taking the device as represented asa whole in Fig. 1the book-holder can be dropped down sidewise in front of the standard,so as to take up very little room when not in use. By its rotaryadjustment on its own axis it can be set and held at any angle desiredto suit the convenience of a reader or writer. It can be used fiat as atable, and for this purpose is reversible, so that either side can beemployed. The main advantage of the construction shown results from thefact that the book-holder projects sidewise from the standard, and thewhole device being portable can be placed conveniently for readers orwriters when seated in a chair, so as to bring the book in front of thechair, the standard being placed to one side. The purpose of extendingthe foot 1 of the tripod support is thus apparent, since the center ofgravity is brought beyond the standard, and a long foot extended beneaththe center of gravity is required to give perfect support. At the sametime the foot goes easily under the chair and is never in the way.

I have shown in Figs. 4 and 5 a supplementary or removable frame orledge surrounding the book-support and composed of strips 15, hingedtogether and having pins 16,whieh enter holes in the board and thus holdthem in place. This frame forms a ledge around, one side of the board,which particularly adapts it for use as a table for serving meals toinvalids. The bottonrpartof theframe; is shown as hinged to the boarditself, so that it can be dropped down, if 'desired. WVhere this frameis not used, the board is provided with a rigidledge at the bottom tosupport the book. For the convenience of writers-a holder F for aninkstand and pens can beattachedto'the guide-el'amp,as shown in Fig. 1.

The modifiedconstruction shown in Fig. 7 may be substitutedfortheset-screw, which holds the book-board when adjusted to the desiredangle. A series of shallow holes 17 is formed in-the pivotrpin, and thesurrounding sleeve is provided with a short springbolt 18, seatinginwardly. \Vhenthispin is withdrawn, the board can be swung on its pivotto the proper angle, the bolt seating itself in the nearest hole andholding the sleeve and board atthc proper angle.

\Vhat I claim is 1. In a book holder, in combination, the standard, theclamp adjustable thereon, the arm pivoted to said clamp and the bookholder carried thereby, said holder being adapted to swing in a verticalplane at right angles to the movement of said arm, substantially as studextending laterally from'the other arm of said piecehaving a groovearound its pcriphery,'the book holderythe sleeve carried thereby'adaptedto fit 'over said stud, and

the pin projecting through said sleeve into said groove, substantiallyas described.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature, in presence of twowitnesses, this 29th day of January, 1895.

CIIARL 1S 1. HARRIS. "\Vitn esses:

.Ii. WJSEELY, II. .T. LANG.

